Power operated sign



Sept. 6, 1960 s. s. PIKE POWER OPERATED SIGN Filed Sept. 10. 1958 INVENTOR. Z

Fae: 74L,

United States Patent 2,951,302 POWER OPERATED SIGN Sele Sidney Pike, 159-39 101st St., Howard Beach, NY. Filed Sept. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 7 60,129

2 Claims. (Cl. 40-30) An object of the present invention is to provide a sign adapted for a store front, and which will automatical- 1y be projected into view and thence withdrawn from view, and which, in one form of the invention, will be swung on pivots for greater attraction to the observers.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation showing the primary elements of the sign, partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 33, Fig. 1.

Carried by a suitable frame, which customarily will be located within a building structure, as for example a store front, is a frame, consisting as to primary members, of an upper frame member 1, a lower frame member 2, and transverse members 3 which carry members 1 and 2. At 4 is a sliding sign carrier which may be provided with anti-friction rollers between it and frame members '1 and 2, or the 'latter may carry antifriction rollers 5 as shown in the drawing. A sliding sign carrying frame is provided with upper and lower arms 6 which support a sign 7.

Carried exteriorly of the primary frame, including members 3, is an electric motor 8 having a driven shaft 9 carrying a worm 10. Worm 10 is in mesh with a worm gear 11 carried by a sprocket wheel 12. On sprocket wheel 12 is a chain 13 leading rearwardly to an idler sprocket wheel 14. Pivoted to the chain is a pull link 15 which, in the present embodiment, is slotted to receive a pin or stud 16 carried by bar 4 of the sliding sign carrier.

When the motor is energized, the chain is driven continuously. In the position of Fig. 1, the chain has projected the sign, through the action of link 15, until it is exposed, and the length of the chain can be such that at this moment the link will ride around sprocket 12 without further projecting the sign until the link reaches below the sprocket and begins to pull the sign back for a repeated forward movement thereof. However, the invention also includes means for bodily rotating the sign before it is retracted. For such purpose, the frame, composed of members 1 and 3, carries a forwardly projecting rack 17, or preferably two racks, one above the other, and spaced upon the sign 7,, In case, the

2 sign is pivoted by stud shafts 20 to the sign, and these stud shafts carry gear wheels 21.

Viewing Fig. 1, it will be seen that as the chain contrnues to forwardly move the sign, the gear wheels 21 will reach the racks 17 and cause the sign to rotate until it has been moved a desired position. This position may be a complete rotation, or it may be a partial rotation, as for example relatively to its position, Fig. "1, following which, upon the movement of the link around the gear wheel 12 and the backward movement of the sign, the latter will be restored to the position of Fig. 1, and thence will be carried back out of sight into the front area of the store or other building.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made in the form and arrangement of the elements constituting the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

I. A power operated sign construction for store fronts and the like, consisting of a rigid frame having an elongated support member for a sign and its carrier, a sign member adapted to be moved inwardly of the frame and outwardly thereof, a sliding carrier for the sign member mounted with slide connection on said elongated support, and adapted to be moved forwardly and backwardly with respect thereto, continuously acting power driven means for repeatedly projecting the sign carrier on said support, and for retracting the same on said support, means pivoting the sign to the sliding carrier, and rack and gear means for imparting rotational movement to the sign, in the projection of the carrier and its sign in its straight path.

2. A power operated sign construction for store fronts and the like, consisting of a rigid frame having an elongated support member for a sign and its carrier, a sign member adapted to be moved inwardly of the frame and outwardly thereof, a sliding carrier for the sign member mounted with slide connection on said elongated support, and adapted to be moved forwardly and backwardly with respect thereto, continuously acting power driven means for repeatedly projecting the sign carrier on said support and for retracting the same on said support, said power means consisting of spaced sprockets, an endless chain carried thereby and bridging the rear end of the sliding carrier, a link offset on the chain and carried thereby, said link having an elongated slot, a stud-like member carried by the sliding carrier and entering said slot, and a motor drive for said sprockets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,510,502 Roth Oct. 7, 1924- 1,522,222 Anderson Jan. 6, 1925 1,598,851 Cutler Sept. 7, 1926 2,061,030 Heath Nov. 17, 1936 ,152,495 Otto Mar. 28, 1939 

